Rolling door-lock hardware



March 20, 1962 P. A. BRAGINETZ ,6

ROLLING DOOR-LOCK HARDWARE Filed Dec. 19. 1958 4 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR PAUL A. BRAGINETZ ATTORNEYS March 20, 1962 P. A. BRAGINETZ ROLLING DOOR-LOCK HARDWARE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19. 1958 INVENTOR PAUL A. BRAGINETZ ATTORNEYS March 20, 1962 P. A. BRAGINETZ ROLLING DOOR-LOCK HARDWARE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 19. 1958 INVENTOR PAUL A. BRAGINETZ ORNEYS March 20, 1962 P. A. BRAG lN ETZ ROLLING DOOR-LOCK HARDWARE Filed Dec. 19. 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 PAUL A. BRAGINETZ 3,025,693 ROLLING DOOR-LOCK HAWARE Paul A. Braginetz, Camp Hill, Pa, assignor to Capitol Products Corporation, Mechanicshurg, Pa., :1 corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,596 1 Claim. (Cl. 70100) This invention relates to latch mechanisms and more particularly and specifically to latch mechanisms for use with sliding door and panels.

Sliding or rolling doors and panels present peculiar problems in latching and locking since these closures move in a single plane into and out of opposed contact with a framing jamb as distinguished from the arcuate path of a swinging closure. Latch mechanisms for sliding closures must permit close surface-to-surface contact between door stile and frame jamb and must retain these component in close, non-rattling engagement when in locked condition. Further, the release mechanisms of such latches must be positive-acting to permit complete uncoupling of the stile and jamb to facilitate their separation upon opening.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a novel latch and lock mechanism for sliding and rollingdoors and panels which is specifically adapted to the needs of such forms of closures.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a unique latch and lock mechanism for sliding and rolling doors and panels which acts as a positive function to hold a panel stile in tight juxtaposition with a framing jamb, and one which is easily operable to effect a complete release of the latched members for opening of the panel.

A further object of this invention lies in the provision of a latch and lock mechanism for rolling doors and panels which is actuated automatically to latch the closure when a panel or door is moved to a closed position, and one which is readily opened interiorly by a finger lever and exteriorly by a key.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision of a unique latch mechanism for sliding and rolling doors wherein the cooperative components of the mechanisms are of simple and inexpensive design, and for the most part, components which are capable of low cost extrusion.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a latch-lock mechanism of a structure which functions automatically to lock a panel closure upon closing, but a structure which permits the latch to be manually set in an inoperative condition when desired.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a latch-lock mechanism for rolling doors and panels which has equal utility in latching a panel with a frame jamb as in latching abutting stiles of oppositely moving door panels in double door closures.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision by the latch-lock mechanism constituting the concepts of this invention of a highly aesthetic as well as functional mechanism which presents the minimum of exposed, visible parts without obstruction to glazed areas in the case of sliding or rolling glass doors and panels.

Still further objects and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art when the following descriptions are read in the light of the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which ice like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views and the modifications shown therein:

FIG. 1 is a front-outside elevation of a door stile and jamb housing the latch components.

FIG. 2 is a rear-inside elevation like FIG. 1 with hidden latch components illustrated in dotted line.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional View taken on ofiset line 44, FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5, FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevation in partial section illustrating one operational position of the latch components.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary partial section like FIG. 6 showing an alternative operation position of the components.

FIG. '8 is an exploded perspective of the latch component.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevation in partial section illustrating a modified latch component.

FIG. 10 is a vertical section taken on line Ill-10, FIG. 9.

Construction The latch-lock mechanism of the present invention is a type adaptable for cooperative utility between a stile of a rolling panel and a door jamb frame, or between stiles of oppositely moving, cooperative door panels.

In general terms the present invention contemplates a latch-lock means including a dish-shaped keep memher having an undercut shoulder in respect to the mouth of the dished opening, a latch finger, a shaft rotatably mounting said latch finger, a latch lever fixed on said shaft and projecting therefrom, a second shaft spaced from the first shaft and mounted for rotation, a crank member fixed on said second shaft and rotatable there with for engagement with said latch finger, and key-operated tumbler means operably engaging said second shaft.

The novel latch mechanism contemplated by the present invention and illustrated in FIGS. 18 of the drawings, generally indicated at 10, is mounted in the vertical stile 12 of a horizontally rolling door panel 14. A strike or keep member 1-6 is recessed in a door framing jamb 18 aligned horizontally and in opposition to the latch mechanism.

The stile supported latch mechanism 10 includes a generally T-shaped latch finger 20 mounted within the panel stile 12 on a horizontal pivot to position the stem portion 22 thereof in projection outwardly through an adjacent opening 24 in that stile face directed opposed to jamb 18. The head 26 of the latch finger is disposed substantially vertically of and within the confines of the stile.

Associated with the upper end of the T head of latch finger 24) is a retaining spring 28, and associated with the lower end of the head of latch finger 20 is a V crank 30. A lever 32 controls pivotal movement of the latch linger from inside the door, and a key actuated tumbler 34 controls movement of the V crank 30, and, hence, latch finger 20 from outside the door.

In more particular detail the latch mechanism hereinbefore generally described is mounted at a selected elevation within the tubular stile 12 of a door panel cooperatively between an outside cup-plate 36 and an inside handle-plate 38. The cup-plate 36 consists of a substantially recangular cup 40 drawn centrally in a rectangular plate 42 providing about the cup a marginal plate portion 44. The cup formation is such that it may be slidably inserted inwardly of the outside face of stile 12 in an opening therein provided to bring the marginal plate portion in juxtaposition with the stile face and to locate the bottom wall 46 of the cup at substantially a central position within the tubular stile.

The bottom wall of the cup 40 and the underside of the marginal portion 44 of the plate are provided with built-up portions 48, in a triangulated arrangement, and these portions are screw tapped from the unde-rsides thereof to receive retaining screws 50 therein as will be hereinafter described. Further, the bottom wall of cup 40 is provided with a stub shaft 52 projecting perpendicularly from the underside thereof in the direction of the opposed, spaced inner wall of the panel stile 12. A raised block 54 is formed on the bottom wall of the cup spaced from stub shaft 52.

The T-shaped latch finger is formed with the stem portion 22 thereof having a locking chanel 56 transversely thereof adjacent the extended free end and opening outwardly of the underside thereof. The locking channel is defined transversely of the latch finger stem by a straight wall 58 perpendicular to the underside of the finger on that side of the channel nearest the free end of the stem, and by an inclined side wall 60 along the opposite side of the chanel extending upwardly and inwardly of the finger from the bottom surface thereof. The extended free end of the finger stem is rounded off vertically as at 62 for functional advantages to be hereinafter shown. The extended remote ends of the head portion 26 of the latch finger are tapered and rounded off as at 64 in each instance. for purposes to be hereinafter obvious.

One side face of the latch finger 20 is provided with a cylindrical recess 66 at a point on the head portion 26 thereof adjacent the integral formation of the stem 22 therewith. The opposite face of the latch finger is provided with a short cylindrical hub 67 extending perpendicularly therefrom in transverse axial alignment with the cylindrical recess 66. The hub 67 is provided on its extended end with a short concentric extension 68 of reduced diameter which has formed on the free end thereof an extended square tang 70.

The inside handle-plate 38 consists of a rectangular plate having a perpendicularly projecting hand grip flange 72 longitudinally of one edge thereof on what is the outer face of the plate. The inner face of the plate is undercut from the handle grip edge thereof to provide a generally U-shaped pocket 74 opening from the plate edge transversely thereof.

An elongated latch lever 32 is associated with the handle-plate 38 and the latch finger tang 70. The lever consists of a flat, narrow plate rounded at one end as at 76 and provided with a square opening 78 adjacent the rounded end. One edge of the lever is provided intermediate the length thereof with a narrow slot 80 extending into the lever at an angle away from the rounded end. The inner end of the slot is undercut as at 82 to provide shoulders generally perpendicular to the axis of the slot 80. The second end of lever 32 is provided with a perpendicular flange 84 extending from the same edge as that in which slot 80 opens, which flange forms a platform adjacent the end of the lever.

In assembly of the latch component thus far disclosed the cup plate is positioned as described and the latch finger is positioned with the recess 66 engaged on the stub shaft 52 of the cup 40 thus locating the free end of latch finger stem 22 in projection outwardly of the stile through opening 24. This location of the latch finger rotatably engages the portion 68 of the latch finger boss within a circular opening86 in the inner wall of stile 12 and locates the square tang 70 in projection outwardly from the inner stile wall. The latch lever 32 is then positioned with square opening 78 therein engaged over tang 70 and the platform 84 is substantially horizontally positioned relative to the free edge of the panel stile. The handle plate 38 is then positioned against the inner face of the stile with the pocket 74 receiving the latch lever 32 which projects outwardly from the open side of the pocket. Retaining screws 50 are then set through openings in the handle plate aligned with the tapped passages in the. built-up portions 48 of the cup to interconnect the handle plate and cup plate across the stile permitting them to be drawn up in tight engagement with the opposed stile faces.

At appropriate stages in the assembly of the components above described, a latch spring 88 and latch retaining spring 28 are incorporated in the mechanism. The

latch spring 88 consists of an elongated flat resilient leaf having an upturned flange 90 at one end. The flanged end of the spring is inserted in the slot of the latch lever to engage the flange behind one shoulder 82, while the second end of the leaf is trained around the rounded end of the lover 32 to engage and lie along that wall of the pocket 74 remote to the slotted edge of the lever. The resilient tension of the spring leaf is such as to urge the free end of the latch lever upwardly thus rotating the latch finger 20 so as to move the extended end of stem 22 thereof downwardly.

The latch retaining spring 28 consists of a L-shaped leaf having one leg 92 thereof secured vertically in block 54 on the bottom of cup 40 and locating the second leg 94 thereof horizontally within the stile above the upper end of head 26 of the latch finger. The free end of leg 94 of the spring 28 is angularly oflset to provide an angular shoulder 96 projecting downwardly into the path of arcuate movement of the extreme upper end of the head portion 26 of the latch finger.

Completing the stile supported components of the latch mechanism are the V crank 30 and key tumbler mechanism 34. The key operated tumbler mechanism 34 is secured on the outside stile wall below the lower end of cup plate 38 so that the axis of the tumbler barrel is aligned below the axis of latch finger hub 67 and at a position spaced closely beneath the arc of movement of the lower, extreme end of the head portion 26 of the latch finger. The inner end of the tumbler barrel mounts the V crank member which is locked on the barrel to position two diverging legs 98 and 100 thereof in upward projection angularly on opposed sides of. the lower end of the latch finger head.

The keep member 16 of the latch mechanism is located on the jamb side of the closure opening. The keep member consists of an elongated U-shaped bar having a flanged extension 102 projecting perpendicularly from one leg thereof from adjacent the extended end of the leg. The flanged leg of the member 16 is further provided with a triangular projection 104 forming at the mouth of the U opening of the keep member an undercut shoulder 106 perpendicular to the inside wall of the leg.

The keep member is positioned vertically within the jamb member 18 immediately inside of an opening 108 therein with the free end of that leg of the U formation remote to flange 102 abutting the inside of the jamb wall above the opening 108 and being secured in such plate by a screw 110 entering from the outside of the jamb wall. The V projection 104 of the keep member is located intermediate the height of the opening 108 and projects outwardly from the jamb face and locates the flange 102 in flush condition relative to the inner face of the jamb wall below the opening 108 where it is secured by second screw 112.

Functional Operation In the operation of the mechanism hereinbefore described the components normally assume the positioning as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 when the panel is closed and latched to the jamb. From these shown positionings of the components the latch may be released from the inside of the door by use of the latch lever 32 and from outside the door by operation of a key in tumbler 34.

Use of the latch lever 32 requires a depression of the platform portion '84 of the lever which pivots the lever causing rotation of tang 7G and hence the entire latch finger assembly. This rotation of the latch finger assembly raises the extended end of latch finger stem 22 so as to disengage the locking channel 56 from behind the shoulder 106 of the keep member 16 whereupon the panel may be moved or rolled horizontally away from the door jamb member.

Release of the latch lever 32 following the depression thereof normally incident to disengagement of the latch will permit the bias of spring 88 to return the lever to its original position locating the latch finger stem 22 in substantially horizontal projection outwardly of the stile opening 24. Hence, subsequent moving of the panel to a closed position will bring the rounded end 62 of the latch stern into abutment with the inclined face 114 of keep projection 1M, and further closing movement will cause the stem to ride up and over the projection permitting the locking channel 56 to drop into place behind the projection shoulder under bias of the spring 88.

It should be further recognized that extended depression of lever 32 beyond that point necessary to disengage the stem channel from the keep member will cause the upper extended end of the head portion 26 of the latch finger to ride over and snap behind shoulder 96 of the upper retaining spring 28 of the assembly. This positioning of the latch finger head will restrain the latch lever against bias of spring 88 and retain the stem in an elevated, non-latching position so that the door may be closed without automatic latching action as described. The latch finger is freed of the restraint of spring 28 by upward pressure on lever 32 sufiicient to move the end of the head portion 26 of the latch finger past the shoulder 96 of the retaining spring.

Operation of the latch mechanism by key from outside the door is accomplished through the medium of the V crank 30. Rotation of the key in a clockwise direction will bring one of the divergent arms of the V crank into engagement with the lower end of the head portion 26 of the latch finger while counterclockwise rotation will bring the other arm into engagement with the opposite edge of the lower end of the head portion. In the embodiment shown counterclockwise rotation of the key will operate V crank 30 so as to cause elevation of the latch finger stem out of engagement with the keep member for unlatching, and extended counterclockwise rotation will bring the upper head portion of the latch finger member into engagement behind the shoulder of the retraining spring to place the latch components in an inoperative position. Clockwise rotation of the key member will serve the principal purpose of disengaging the upper end of the head portion of the latch finger from engagement behind the shoulder of the retaining spring to allow it to return to an operable latching position.

From the foregoing functional operations of the latch mechanism construction hereinbefore described it is seen that an apparatus is provided which furnishes a latch means for rolling and sliding doors which acts automatically to latch or lock the door upon closing of the sliding panel against a fixed frame jamb which is releasable from within the door by a simple latch lever and from outside the door by utilization of a key operating in a lock tumbler. It is further seen that the latch may be set in an inoperative position from either the inside or outside the door by rotating the key or pivoting the lever beyond a point of normal latch disengagement to bring components into an interlocking position retaining the latch finger in a non-engaging position relative to the keep member of the combination described.

Modified Structure In FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings there is shown a modified arrangement of the latch mechanism constituting the present invention which is particularly adapted for use between the opposed abutting stiles of two oppositely sliding panels.

In the modified construction shown, that stile 114 housing the latch finger and related components is identical to that hereinbefore described while the stile 116 housing the keep member, as a replacement for the framing jamb hereinbefore described, is of similar construction and utilizes a cup plate 36 and a handle plate 68 of identical construction to those hereinbefore described.

However, in the stile 116 the cup plate 36' and handle plate 38 are interlocked across the stile as before to serve the sole function of furnishing means permitting the door to be grasped and easily moved from either side. The cup plate and handle plate do not support any latch components between them as hereinbefore described since the sole component cooperating as an element of the latch combination carried by the stile 116 is the modified keep member 118.

The keep member 118 is substantially identical in all respects to keep member 16 hereinbefore described with the single exception being in the shortening of the upper leg 120 of the U-shaped configuration by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the stile wall. This modification permits the keep member to be positioned as shown in FIG. 9 with the upper end engaged within and behind the wall of the stile while the flanged extension 122 thereof perpendicularly formed relative to the second lower leg 124 of the U-shaped configuration is disposed on the outside face of the stile and is secured in place adjacent its extremity by a screw 126. This mounting of the keep member permits the keep to be positioned and retained by the use of the single screw 126 while at the same time dynamically balancing the forces acting on the keep member in combination with the latch between the inner and outer faces of the stile thereby rigidly locking it in place and eliminating any possible displacement or drifting of the keep member in its positioning relative to the latch finger of the latch component.

Accordingly, a new and highly useful latch mechanism for sliding and rolling doors which accomplishes the new and useful results denoted and satisfies the numerous advantages and objects set forth has been provided.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no un-. necessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art since such words are used for illustrative and descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed within the limitations of the prior art.

Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation and use of the preferred and modified embodiments thereof, what is desired to be claimed is:

A latch mechanism for sliding panels comprising, in combination; a housing provided with an opening in one vertical edge thereof, a shaft supported transversely of said housing, a latch finger rotatable on said shaft and having an end projecting through said housing opening, a substantially vertically disposed cross head formed on said latch finger within said housing and remote to the projected end of said finger, resilient means having continuous operable engagement with and biasing said finger to a selected latching position, a hand lever operably engaging said latch finger for rotating the same in opposition to the bias of said resilient means to a non-latching position, a resilient catch in the path of rotation of one end of said latch finger cross head and engageable therewith to retain said finger in a non-latching position, a rotatably mounted key-operated tumbler, and a crank on said tumbler engageable with the second end of said latch finger cross head in both directions of tumbler rotation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 Koh'n May 6, 1919 Boardman 1 May 17, 1921 Hansen Apr. 13, 1928 Ruegg Oct. 11, 1938 Kitzelman June 5, 1956 Ensign Nov. 25, 1958 Elsner Nov. 17, 1959 

